Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, new member representing Ondo State in the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says completing rural electrification and road inter-connectivity projects in the communities are his priority.
Ayedatiwa made the assertion on Tuesday in an interview in Abuja.
According to him, electrification and road connectivity among the oil producing communities are major desires of the people even as they appreciated other interventions by the commission.
“NDDC has done a lot to contribute significantly to educational development in the Niger Delta Areas and states at large.
“Ondo State is a peculiar Niger-Delta state because it has two Local Governments that constitute Niger-Delta area states.
“They are: Ilaje Local Government and Ese Odo Local Government Areas,’’ Ayedatiwa told NAN enumerating the myriads of problems in the communities.
He said that one of the major problems facing the areas was electricity.
“For some years till now, there’s no electricity in those areas and NDDC has been trying its best to reverse this horrible trend.
“Through my membership, I will ensure that electricity problem in Ilaje and Ese-Odo communities are resolved soon.
“ Other problems includes absence of roads connecting the 49 Niger-Delta Communities in the state,’’ the NDDC board member said.
“Ugbo-Oghoye Road project awarded by NDDC has not been going on as expected, we shall find out why it is that way.
“That project is very dear to the heart of Niger-Delta communities in Ondo State, the contractor needs to get back to site and see to its completion very soon.’’
Ayedatiwa added that he would ensure that human capital development in the oil-producing communities was improved and sustained.
On how to identify critical areas that NDDC needed to help the communities he was representing, the 2015 APC candidate for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives disclosed his plan.
“As member representing Ondo State Niger Delta areas in NDDC board, I am going to adopt bottom-up approach in embarking on projects in the communities.
“I will engage stakeholders at the grassroots to know their priorities, push for its provision or fine-tune their demands where they seem to be ignorant of the consequences of misplaced priorities,’’ he said.
The board member commended NDDC for living up to expectations, especially by giving out scholarships to Niger-Delta youths up to Ph.D level.
Ayedatiwa commended President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating him and Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State governor, for his recommendations and support to him, promising to remain committed to the party.
Ayedatiwa was nominated by Buhari and confirmed by the senate to represent Ondo State in NDDC board along with Chuka Nwauna and Nwogu Nwogu for Imo and Abia respectively.
The three new members were sworn in into the NDDC board on Wednesday.
It will be recalled that NDDC is an intervention agency established to bridge infrastructural gaps in oil-producing states. (NAN)
